Air retaining means for refrigerators



May 19, 1936 c. B, MITCHELL Y 2,041,258

AIR RETAINING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATORS ihm-mm1 `-May 19, 1936. c. B, MITCHELL` 2,041,258

AIR RETAINING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed-Oct. 25, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May` 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-rcs MEANS FOR REFaIGERA'roRs charles B. Mitchell, san Anania, Tex. Application october 25, 1934, serial No. '150,028 14 claim. 1 (ci. 15s-'10) My invention relates to' an air retaining curtain for refrigerators, and more particularly to a means adapted to be secured to a refrigerator in a manner to reduce to a minimum the loss of cold air therefrom While the door is open.

While the main object of my invention is toV 20 um Another object is to provide a transparent air retainingcurtain preferably formed from al plurality of small units so arranged as to permit access to and removal of an article from the rear thereof by merely displacing a portion of the curtain adjacent that article.

Other objects and a clear disclosure oi' my invention will appear in the specification that follows and from the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view of an open refrigerator showing my improvedV air retaining curtain in position; I

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing parts displaced to permit access to an article;

IFig. 3 shows a cross-section on line. 3 3 of Fig. 1;- 1

Fig.' 4 is an4 ,enlarged` detail view ofwan adjusting means for a curtain unit;

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section on line 5 5 of Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a curtain support; Fig. 7 shows a cross-section on line 1 1 of Fig. 6; v l

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of curtain support; Fig. 1 9` shows a cross-section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8; ,f Fig. 10 shows alsectional form of curtain unit; Fig. 11 is a view in cross-section on' line I-I-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 shows a modified form of curtain sup- DOrt' n Y, Fig. 13 isa viewin of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 snows @modified form wherein the n articles from a refrigerator adjacent an article 8 moved laterally by cross-section online I 3 .|'3 ,Y iforthe air retaining is desired that the entire` curtainl be edges of adjacent curtain units may be secured to each other in a manner to be readily opened; Fig. 15 shows a stiiener element for a curtain unit;

` Fig. 16 shows a cross-section on line {6 16 of l Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 shows a means for readily replacing curtain units; and y Fig. liiis an enlarged detail view of a simple form of curtain attachment.

In Fig. l, a refrigerator l is shown with its door 2 in open position to Vexpose an air retaining curtain 3 constructed according to one form of my invention. This curtain is transparent and preferably formed of'material sold under the trade name of Cel1ophane. The curtain is made up of a plurality of relatively narrow strips 4 arranged in edge-to-edge relation. While I have shown these strips as extended vertically, they may be arranged transversely or at an angle to the vertical. -The upper and lower endsl of each strip; as best shown in Fig. 18, are secured by an adhesive strip 5 to an elastic insert li and'each insert is secured to atransversely extending exible strip 1.. An adhesive surface on the strip 1 enables it to be secured to the inserts 6 and, in turn, to the top and-bottom interior surfaces of :I'he purpose of the elastic inserts 6 is to permit the vertical strips 4 to readily yield laterally as the refrigerator closely adjacent the door there-` of shown in Fig. 2. In this view, certain strips I f contact of the hands of the operatorapplied at points 9 I0 on opposite sides pivotedy at I3 to claspii is adapted to engage with its inner end Il the lower portion of strip I.

against the upper endof The clamp Il may be manipulated tofenga'ge strip l at any point desired to provide' a strip of proper length' and tension.

. Figs. 6,and 'l show a modied form of Support curtain to be used when it readily tachable vas a unit.4 upper and To this-end. the

to be removed have been' lower ends of strips .treme outer strips 4 lower ends of each strip 4 are looped around and secured to a transverse rod I5. A plunger bolt I6 is' slidably mounted in a recess I1 in each end of each rod. A spring I8 normally retains each bolt extended to engage within a recess I9 formed in the side wall of the refrigerator. A handle 20 on the bolt I6 extends forwardly through a slot 2I and may be operated manually to retract `the bolts when it is desired to remove the upper and lower rods and attached curtain strips. An extension 22 lformed on each end or rods I5 coezlrtensive'with the slot 2I. The exare secured to these extensions 22 and the ends of the strips are passed through slots 23 formed in each extension 22. 'I'he purpose of such arrangement is to permit free access to the handles 20 by terminating the outer strips 4 below the slots 2|.

A further modified form of curtain support is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the upper and 4 are secured, as shown in Fig. 1, to elastic strips 6 which, however, are clamped between the refrigerator wall and a transversely extending metal strip 24. Each strip 24 is supported by means of pins 25, the bases 26 of which areattached to the refrigerator wall., Each pin 25 is provided with a pair of snap detents 21 which are retained extended by a spring 28. The detents are formed with cam faces 29. A series of openings 30 in the strips 24 register with the pins 25. The curtain is secured in place by inserting rubber terminals 6 under the strips 24 after which the pins 25 are passed through the openings 30 to permit detents 21 to'first move-inwardly to pass the openings 30 and then to snap outwardly to engage under the strips 24.

While I prefer to make use of thin flexible strips 4, I contemplate, in another form, a relatively thick strip 3I as shown in Figs. 10 and 1l. Such form of strip, however, may preferably be formed in sections pivotally connected by pins 32, the ends of which are secured in the bifurcated ends 33 formed on alternate sections. It may be desirable, however, to provide pivoted sections for the thin strips shown in Fig. 1.

Figures 12 and' 13 show a construction arranged to permit full and ready access to the usual set of ice trays 34. To this purpose, the upper end of the curtain is arranged to -be dropped to a position below the ice tray unit. The strips 4 are supported on a transverse rod I5 as described for Fig. 6, the associated bolts I6 of'which engage in wall recesses I9.- The rod I5 is hung by means of a pair of straps 35 which pass over a small free roller 36 and engage around a spring retracted roller 31 constructed somewhat similar to the usual shade roller. To drop the curtain, the bolts I6 are retracted and the rod I5 pushed down as, far Vas desired or to the position shown in Figs. l2 and 13. When the-rods I5 are restored to their normal raised position, the spring roller 31 will rewind the straps 35 thereon or until the bolts I5 are received in the recees I9.

'I'he strips 4 inFig's. '12 and 13 are shown as adiustably securedk tothe rod I5. The upper ends of the strips are looped around the vrod and passed I I5, aswell as the.

through rings 38. The roller rings-38, may be given a rough surfaceto contact the strips 4 in a manner to prevent any slippage of these strips. Adjustment is made by merely passing more or less of the strips through the rings V38.

In Fig. 14, the adjacent edges of the strips 4 are shown as detachably connected by means of a fastener known to the trade as the zippeh land enough new strip aon.

One or a pair of such type of fasteners 33 may be employed. Fig. 14 shows one fastener 39 as having been displaced upwardly to permit the strip edges to separate as at 40.

In one form, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, I 5 contemplate providing a series of stifrening elements 4I secured to the rear faces of strips 4 preferably at points adjacent the shelves 42. The elements 4I may be transparent and placed at any point on the strip. If such elements are made from opaque material, they are positioned preferably as shown.

In Fig. 17 is shown a means for supplying or renewing the strips 4. A supply of ystrip material is carried on a reel 43. This reel is preferably made in two parts, one outer part 44 being arranged to rotate freely on an inner part 45. A slide lock 46 is arranged to lock parts 44 and 45 together. The inner part 45 is formed as a spring roller, a spring 41 being arranged to turn part 45 in a counter-clockwise direction. The strip material feeds from reel 43 through a clasp 43 to extend to the top of the refrigerator. The reel is supported `on the floor of the 4refrigerator by standards 49. A clamp lever 5I! is arrangedto grip 25 the strip 4. This lever is provided with an extension 5I to which is secured an elastic strip l2 which, in turn, is secured at its lowerend to the refrigerator oor at 53. The strip l2 acts to 80 maintain tension on strip 4 at all times.

When it is Idesired to renew fa strip 4, the old strip is cut off above the clamp. The latch 43 is moved to free the part 44 from the part 4l material is passed up through clasp 48 to reach the curtain top where 35 it is secured in a manner hereinbefore described. The latch 46 is again set to permit the reel 43 A to rotate in either direction as the strip 4 ls moved up or down in use.

While I have disclosed a preferred form of 40 my invention, aswell as various modifications, it is to be understood that I make claim to the broad and generic features described and contemplate that the appended claims in scope shall embrace modifications other than those shown.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator having an egress opening, in combination, an air retaining means comprising a plurality of relatively long narrow strips of air impervious material, and means to secure said strips to the refrigerator adjacent said opening in edge-to-edge relation to provide a means to retain air within the refrigerator.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, wherein 55' the strips are formed to yield laterally.

3. In a device as set forth in claim l, wherein the strips are formed to yield laterally, and yieldable means associated with an end of said strips for permitting them to be moved relative to each other to provide an yaccess opening adjacent an article in the refrigerator.

4. A closure for impeding passage of gas through an opening, said closure comprising a plurality of relatively long narrow laterally yieldable strips of air impervious material, means for mounting both ends of the strips adJacent the opening with the strips in an edge-to-edge relation.

5. An air retaining barrier for a refrigerator comprising a plurality of long narrow laterally yieldable transparent strips of sir impervious material, means for securing lthe strips to the inner walls of the refrigerator adjacent the door thereof with all strips'- in an edge-to-edge'rela- 6. 'In an air retaining barrier as set forth in claim 5. wherein each strip comprises a plurality of pivot'ed sections.

7; In an air retaining barrier as set forth Iin claim 5, yieldable means associated with an en d permit Variation in the length of each strip to thereof. i.

9. In an air retaining barrier as set forth in claim 5, means for securing corresponding ends of all the strips to a 'supporting member, and means for"detachably mounting said member upon an inner wall of the refrigerator.

10. In anair retaining barrier as .set forth in claim 5, means for adjustably mounting one end of the barrier to an inner wall of the refrigerator to permit movementv of said end to provide access to an object in rear of said end.

1l. An air retaining barrier comprising a plurality of long narrowllaterally yieldable strips, anfelastic element securedl to an end of each strip, and means to secure the free ends of the elastic elements to a support. n

12. An air retaining barrier for a refrigerator comprising a plurality of yieldable transparent strips of air impervious material arranged in edge-to-edge relation, means to secure said strips to an inner wall of the refrigerator, a series of co operating interengaging detents spaced along the adjacent opposed edges of the strips, anda slide member arranged to engage said detents and being slidable thereover to open or close said de'- tents in succession.

13. A retaining barrier for impeding passage of gas through an opening and comprising a plurality of elongated strips of -exible material, means for securing one end of each strip to a sup- -port with the strips placed in edge-to-edge relation, each strip being extended at its other end to provide a vsource of reserve strip supply whereby used portions of any strip may be cut off, and a reserve portion of strip extended to replace said used portion.

14. In a barrier as set forth in claim 13,4wherein the reserve strip is formed to provide a coil of strip, and means for yieldably mounting said 'coil to permit limited movement of the coil and the adjacent connected strip portion.

' CHARLES B. 'MITCHELL 

